NHTSA complaint: 1998 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRES. STOPPED AND PULLED OFF ROAD. LIFTED HOOD AND BURNING WIRES SMELLED STRONGER NEAR ALTERNATOR. TOUCHED AREA, AND IT WAS HOT. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALTERNATOR FAILED DUE TO BEARINGS BURNING OUT. FRONT BEARINGS CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO BURN. HAD TO REPLACE OLD ALTERNATOR WITH A NEW ALTERNATOR THAT HAD LARGER/BIGGER BEARINGS, AND WOULD NOT WEAR OUT AS FAST.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation